INQUEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1164, 1 December 1863, Page 4

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Albion Hotel, Lyttelton, yesterday, on the body of Mr. Ebenezer flay, who was found dead at the bottom of a precipice near the summit of the Bridle-path. The inquest Avas held before William Donald, Esq., M.D., the coroner of the district, and a highly respectable jury, of which Mr. Charles Woledge was chosen foreman. The first witness was S. C. Farr, who deposed as follows: I had an appointment to meet the deceased, with whom I was well acquainted, on Friday afternoon. Not hearing any tidings of him, after the appointed time had elapsed, I became alarmed, and made some enquiries respecting him, but without success. I sent a telegram to Mr. Parker, at Christchurch, who replied that Mr. Hay had left Christchurch in the afternoon of Thursday. Subsequently I receivedinformation that the deceased had started for Lyttelton on Thursday by Coe's cart. I could obtain no further intelligence, and I mentioned the circumstances to the police. In company with Mr. Renshaw and a constable, I proceeded to the top of the Bridle-path, having ascertained that the deceased was last seen in that direction. We found that he had remained some little time in the refreshment place near the summit of the hill. We learned this from two men and a woman, who, however, could not inform us in what direction he had gone. We went toward Lyttelton, but finding no traces of the deceased, we again ascended the hill, where we met the men and the woman I have alluded to, and they asked us if we had seen or heard anything of the deceased. They persisted in their statement that they did not know which way the deceased had gone. After some further search, I saw the body of the deceased lying below that portion of the road which was formerly protected by a railing. The body was lying "at the bottom of the cliff, the head resting on the left arm. I noticed a slight scratch on the wrist. I did not examine the body. The last time I saw the deceased was at Mr. Duncan's office, on Thursday morning. I reminded him that he must meet me punctually in Lyttelton, at the hour agreed on, the following day. He pressed his hand to his head, and remarked, " that he had undergone anxiety enough to drive a man cranky." He was quite sober at the time. I knew that this observation was in connection with the legal proceedings which had lately taken place. Mr. Duncan had that day received a writ against the deceased for £1100 damages, on account of the fire in Pigeon Bay. I had seen deceased some days previously. He was then in his usual health and spirits. By the Jury: It struck me that the body appeared as if it had been placed in the spot where I found it. The body was lying with the head in the direction of I the hill. There was some flax near the spot, but not enough to break the force of the fall. The grass did not appear crushed. George Angus was the next witness, and stated that, on Thursday night last, the deceased called at the refreshment-place kept by witness. The deceased, who was perfectly sober, left to go in the direction of Lyttelton. Several persons were present at the refreshment-place. Two draymen descended the hill about the same time. They had had some conversation with Mr. Hay, and jokingly asked him to give them a job; he replied that he could not do so as he was a poor man now. By Serjeant Sugrue: The deceased paid for some lemonade which he had at my house. I did not notice any money in his possession besides that which he paid me. He took the money out of his trowsers' pocket. By the Court: One of the draymen is named Faulkner, and the other Gillan. They left at the same time as the deceased, descending the hill in the direction of Christchurch. The deceased did not ap-

pear at all excited, nor did he appear either feeble or unwell. W. Demspterwas next examined, but his evidence was only corroborative of that of the other witnesses. James Gillan, stated: I am a carter living at Christchurch. I crossed the hill on Thursday. I met a middle-aged man, who asked me to give him a ride over the hill. I replied that I would, if he I would walk to the foot of the hill. Ido not know the person who addressed me, nor can I account for his asking me the question. I met a dray coming down the hill on the Port side. I believe that it was driven by a man named L'i.-hcr. James M. Fisher stated that he met the deceased, who was coming up the hill from Christchurch. The deceased took hold of the back of witness's dray to help himself up the hill, promising to give him a nobbier on his arrival in Lyttelton. Deceased did not appear to be intoxicated. He appeared as in deep thought. Quintin Santars and John Brown, two seamen belonging to the Zambesi, corroborated the evidence of the last witness with reference to the presence of deceased at the refreshment shop at the summit of the Bridle-path. H. 11. Davis, sworn: I am a waterman, late of Graveseud, but now living in Lyttelton, at Mr. liargreaves'. 1 was over the hill oil Thursday afternoon, and called at the cottage on the top of the hiil. J came out in the Zambesi. A mate was with me named Brown. We started to go to Christchurch. The remainder of the evidence of this witness was in corroboration of Brown, who was with him. John Thomas Rouse, being duly sworn, said: I am a medical practitioner, residing at Lyttelton. I visited on Saturday afternoon the body at the place it had been found. It had not been disturbed. The body was lying about 200 feet below the stone parapet beyond the railing. About half way between the parapet and the deceased was his hat, resting on a shelf. The crown was downward flattened; a soft wide-a-wake. Below the hat was a very steep face of stone tussocky ground underneath it, for say 20 yards, not so steep. Then some flax bushes against which the body appeared to have stopped. It was very much in the position of a person laid down to sleep. The body was resting on tlie left arm, which was doubled under it, the legs crossed. Head upward, apparently resting on a large smooth surface of stone. When the body was moved, I found the head was hanging over on the shoulder, not exactly touching the stone. There had not been a great amount of bleeding,—a small pool under the head. The right arm, and some of the stones about were spattered with blood. Over the right eye a small gaping wound from which the blood had come. Some scratches about the right wrist. Clothes rent in one or two places. I have made a post mortem examination yesterday (Saturday) evening. The body was far advanced in decomposition. The features not recognisable. Cuts upon both knees (occurred before death). Eight knee-cap dislocated and torn from its ligament. No limbs broken. On removing the scalp, found a depression on the skull of very small extent, corresponding to the external wound. On opening the head, found great effusion of blood upon the brain. The inner table of the skull shewed injury corresponding to outer table, and from this a fissure ran obliquely across the base of the skull commencing above right orbit and running to behind left ear, involving left orbit in its course and all the intervening bones. This was doubtless the cause of death (fracture of base of skull with great extravasation of blood on the brain had caused death). The mobility of the head was so great that I have no doubt that the neck was broken or dislocated. I don't think anything but a heavy fall could have produced the fracture of the skull. A blow from an instrument would have produced greater injury at the point of contact. The skull was rather thin for a man of his age. He must have been alive when the injury was received, the spattering of blood was as if from a small arterial twig. I consider he must have fallen over from the interval between the last part and the corner of the zig-zag road. There were one or two marks between the top and where he was, as if scraped by boots. The body could be seen by any one looking over the precipice. I don't believe the body had been moved from where it fell, i.e., from the time of receiving the wound. Charles Mottley, being duly sworn on his oath said: —I am a medical practitioner, at Lyttelton, I assisted at the post mortem examination of the body, externally there was a contused wound on the right temple, the skin and part of the flesh grazed off both knees and shin. Right patella dislocated. On removing the scalp a quantity of extravasated blood was tound. Oil opening the skull a large quantity of extravasated blood was found on the brain. The skull was fractured, the fracture extending from right temple, where the external wound was passing to the left side, passing through frontal parietal and temporal bone to theear,and to base of theskull. Concussion and compression of the brain had caused daatli. A fall from a height would have caused the injuries. The fracture was not of a character to have been caused by a weapon. The neck I believe was broken. Death must have soon followed the injury. Sergeant Sugrue detailed the information received from Mr. Farr about Mr. Hay being missing on Saturday morning, and the steps taken to make enquiries about him in the valley; also what took place when the body was found, previously reported by the other witnesses; in addition the sergeant produced a small quantity of hair found upou one of the rocks below where the cap was found, the color corresponded with the hair of the deceased. On the body being searched in company with Mr. Packer and others, the following articles were produced as found in the pockets. I silk handkerchief, pocket book, cheque book, sample of wool, and a purse containing half a sovereign, and a receipt for 15s, cut up tobacco, pipe, and matches, with three or four receipts for money paid in Christchurch. Mr. Parker, iunkeeper, Christchurch, was the next witness called: His evidence proved that Mr. Hay was at his house from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon, and that he left for Lyttelton by Coe's cart at half-past 2; he had to see a person on business before leaving. On settling with me I noticed he had some notes left in his pocket-book—more than one; he might have paid something on the road after he left our house; he got a £5 changed by me, in settling, and remarked that he would just have money to carry him home. Mr. Hay had informed me that his sight had failed him of late, and he stated this was the reason that he had left his watch at home for he could not tell the time. 1 think it is possible for him to have fallen over the parapet from his defect of vision. I have known him for the last 14 years. I have been down to Pigeon Bay, and found his watch there. This concluded the whole of the evidence, and the room was cleared for the jury to deliberate, who, after an interval of fifteen minutes, returned a verdict of " Accidental Death." The jury delivered a presentment to the effect that owing to the dangerous state of the bridle-path, the repairs are highly necessary to prevent accidents. The melancholy occurrence has created a great and universal feeling of regret, as Mr. Hay was not only one of the earliest settlers in the province, but was very greatly respected and esteemed by a large circle of friends.